Everyone Needs A Survival Multi Tool!
Over the last 20 odd years, we’ve become accustomed to living care free. We take each day as it comes and live out our lives this way. What’s wrong with this approach? Well…a whole lot! Ever heard the quote by Lee Child “hope for the best, plan for the worst”? It’s one of those quotes that’s jam packed with wisdom and truth. If we followed the quote and “planned for the worst”, we’d need to do things differently and as far as survival is concerned, we’d need continued access to the 3 basic essentials: water, food, and shelter. A survival multi tool can go a long way in helping us attain these essentials, and that’s why every living person needs one!
“We aren’t cavemen and we live in a modern, civilized world, so all this isn’t necessary”. If these are your thoughts, I am here to tell you how wrong you are. It’s time to wake up my friend because whether you like it or not, circumstances could change in an instant. Before I talk about my 6 favorite survival multi tools, let’s look at 4 very realistic scenarios where having the right tool could be the difference between life and death!
#1 World War 3 – Haven’t Thought About It? Well You Should!
The potential of a third world war is huge. In fact, it’s more likely that a war would happen than not, and it’s not even far fetched to say this. Terrorism and terrorist attacks are now a common occurrence. I stay away from the news, but when I’m at a public place and it’s turned on, all I ever see is violence. A bomb here killed 60 people, and a truck there ran over 20. In case you didn’t realize, the world while mostly peaceful, still has the potential to be a messed up place. While I don’t want to imagine what world war 3 would look like, it’s a realistic situation I need to plan for.
How would I plan for the worst? Stock up on rations, construct a nuclear proof shelter (or pay for one!), and equip myself with survival tools.
#2 Earthquakes, Tsunamis & Hurricanes – Mother Nature Answers Back!
How many earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis have we seen in the last decade? I’ll leave you to answer that one, and if you come up with a number, let me know by leaving a comment! At the time of writing this post, people in Houston are fighting for their lives against hurricane Harvey. Hundreds of people have been displaced from their homes and forced into shelters. I’ve even seen videos of people trapped in their cars unable to get out. If you had the choice of planning beforehand, what would you do in such a situation, and do you think a survival multi tool could be the difference? I’ll leave you to ponder as we continue on.
#3 Burglaries, Break Ins, & Everyday Violence – A Very Real Possibility!
First off, let me say I do not advocate violence. However, if my or my family’s life is threatened, that does change things slightly. Growing up, I’ve heard some horror stories about burglaries and break ins. The kind that would make you nauseous just thinking about it. When you hear these horrific stories, you can’t help but think “what if that was me, and what would I have done?”. And it all plays out, over and over and over again. The best thing you can do is be prepared. Prepare yourself for the worst, and hope for the best!
#4 Unplanned/Unforeseen Events – Car Accidents, Camping/Hunting Mishaps
Unforeseen circumstances as the name suggests, are events that you don’t anticipate. Some examples are car accidents, camping/hunting/hiking injuries, and even travel setbacks. How would you plan for these kinds of situations? Did you know something as simple as a car emergency kit could prove extremely useful during an accident? Allow me to elaborate by giving you an example. Let’s say you’ve met with an accident and your car has flipped/rolled and you’re trapped with no way to get out. In order to escape, you need to first free yourself from the jammed seat belt, and two break the window to somehow crawl out. Well guess what? There is a survival multi tool that does exactly this (see below)! It can break car windows and rip seat belts. What if you had this tool in your possession, do you see how it could very well be the difference between life or death?
If you want to read more about the BlizeTec survival multi tool, click here.
In No Particular Order, Here Are My 6 Best Survival Multi Tools!
It is important to note that all survival multi tools on this list may be different from the other. Different features, different sizes, and most importantly very different prices. As you scroll through the list, you should always consider what is important to you. For example, maybe you don’t want something that’s heavy or bulky, and because of this you know to look for portable solutions only (plenty of these below!). One more thing you should always remember and this goes for pretty much everything (not just survival multi tools): The fact that it costs more $$$ doesn’t mean it’s better than the cheaper option. I can’t stress this enough! There’s lots of awesome, cool, inexpensive, high quality products on amazon, and hopefully by the end of this post you will see that. Alright, enough ranting……let’s get right into it!
#1 Tactical Pen Made From 303 Stainless Steel And Tungsten
Imagine having a survival multi tool system integrated right into your pen. If we talk about innovation and creativity, this design is definitely a great example. Keep reading to see what I like and dislike about it!
***CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON***
What I Like About It
It’s A Pen!
Don’t know about you, but when I first saw this I was flabbergasted! It’s honestly the type of thing you expect to see in espionage movies, not real life. What I really love though is how all the tools/features (flashlight, wrench, scraper, bottle opener, screwdriver) have been fit into something as small as a pen. Pretty damn cool!
Solid & Built To Last
Constructed from hardened 303 stainless steel, this isn’t just any regular pen. It’s built to take some beating! The fact that it’s highly durable means I can carry it pretty much every where I go.
Wanna Fight? Say Hello To My Little Friend!
The tip of this pen is constructed from tungsten. So what’s the big deal with tungsten? It’s crazy hard! And because of this it can be used to not only break glass but also as a self defense tool, if absolutely required.
What I Don’t Like About It
I’m Left Wanting More
Is it true that more equals better as far as survival multi tools are concerned? If you ask me, I think it is. And that’s because if you were in a dire situation, ideally you’d want a plethora of tools available at your disposal. That’s where this falls short. It’s limited in the multi tools it features.
#2 LifeStraw Personal Water Filter
Now before you start bashing me for having a water filter as one of the best survival multi tools, I just want you to pause for a moment and think about one thing: what is the one chemical that makes up the most of your body? You can have all the fancy survival tools with all the fancy gadgets, but if you have no access to clean water……you’re basically dead!
***CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON***
What I Like About It
The One Survival Tool Everyone Needs To Have!
If shizz hits the fan, what’s the single most important thing you need to keep you alive? CLEAN WATER! And because of this, the LifeStraw is the most important survival tool you can ever have, in my opinion. Even if you don’t use it on a daily, you should invest in one simply for emergency preparedness.
For A Portable Water Filtration System, It’s Pretty Cheap
I’ve seen all sorts of water filtration systems, and most are either ridiculously priced or don’t quite do what they’re supposed to. This removes 99.9999% of bacteria and doesn’t cost much at all (click here to check latest pricing on amazon).
It Doesn’t Run On Batteries So No Maintenance Required
No moving parts, no batteries. It uses a hollow fibre membrane to filter out the harmful stuff. It’s really as simple as that. What does this mean for me? Less headache with maintaining the unit.
What I Don’t Like About It
It Works For Most Things, But Not Everything
In case you’re wondering, no it won’t make your pee taste like water, so save yourself the effort and don’t try to repeat what tons of bored YouTubers have. More importantly, you should be aware of LifeStraw’s limitations. It will not filter out any chemicals or toxins. As with anything, exercise caution on what you use this for, and you should be fine.
#3 Leatherman Wingman Stainless Steel Multi Tool
For those of you who like lots of tools in a single device, this is very much up your alley. Multi tool galore is what this is!
***CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON***
What I Like About It
If You Want More, This Doesn’t Disappoint!
The Leatherman Wingman comes jam packed with all sorts of tools: 420HC steel knife, spring action scissors, package opener, and a Phillips screwdriver to name a few. I mentioned previously that more equals better when it comes to survival multi tools, and this is an example of that. Each of these tools would make our overall objective (to survive!) much easier!
25 Years Of Coverage
Nice to know that Leatherman has you covered for quarter of a century. It shows the confidence they have in their products. The last thing you need is to have an unreliable multi tool that always breaks or malfunctions!
It’s Actually Not That Big!
For a tool that packs a full sized set of pliers, it is surprisingly not that big. Because it’s not that big, it’s easy to carry and store. You could quite easily toss one in your car glove box or your home emergency kit with no problems.
What I Don’t Like About It
Still Missing Some Very Important Tools
This would have been a full 10/10 if it had these two tools: fire starter, and glass breaker. Why these 2 specifically, you ask? Well, fire just like water is essential. From a survival standpoint, fire would be useful in keeping us warm and safe from predators.
#4 A2S Paracord Survival Bracelet
These days it’s not uncommon to see people accessorizing with fancy wrist wear; expensive watches, fit bits, and ionized wristbands are a few gadgets that come to mind. But here’s an accessory that can save your life, if only you wear it!
***CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON***
What I Like About It
Finally A Compass!
Let me ask you a question: when everything goes to crap in a natural disaster or war (or apocalypse!), how useful do you think your smartphone/GPS will be? While you think about that, just remember Christopher Columbus did not use a smartphone or internet to go on those crazy adventures. He used a compass! The importance of a compass cannot be overstated. In addition to a compass, this survival multi tool also features a fire starter, whistle, and knife.
Not A Hassle To Carry And Store
Wear it and forget about it. It’s really that simple! You don’t have to worry about storage or putting it in your pocket or backpack. Once it’s on your wrist, you’re pretty much ready to rock and roll. I really do appreciate how hassle free this is.
I’m Digging The Way It Looks, And How Much It Costs!
I am actually really surprised with how cool these survival bracelets look! They come in all sizes (kids too!) and colors, so you’re not just stuck with black. Go for pink/black, if you’re feeling adventurous! Also, price is on point (click here to check latest pricing on amazon).
What I Don’t Like About It
I Have Small Wrists….Sigh
These are made for folks with large wrists. Unfortunately I am not one of those folks, so the fit is a tad bit large for what I am used to. If you have small wrists as well, you may want to consider getting the kids size which would fit wrists measured 6.5-7 inches.
#5 Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Belt
In our quest to find the best survival multi tool, we have looked at all sorts of gadgets thus far (tactical pens, water filters, and bracelets), but this one is different from the rest. Keep reading to see how!
***CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON***
What I Like About It
It Can Be Customized To Suit Your Specific Needs!
What differentiates this survival multi tool from the rest is the freedom to customize. What do I mean by this? This survival belt features a hidden zippered compartment to stash any small items you need. What would I store in the compartment? I’d probably store a fire flint, emergency whistle, a small Victorinox pocket knife, and some pain killer medication. How would you accessorize? Leave it in the comments!
It’s Surprisingly Comfortable
Not all survival belts are comfortable; in fact, most are bulky and lack the practicality of every day use. This belt is quite the opposite. It feels comfortable to wear, and isn’t too rigid or bulky. At the same time, the belt feels tough and durable (it doesn’t feel like the stitching would rip apart).
Could Make For An Awesome Travel Belt!
Thinking about it now, this could be a great belt to use when back packing or going on long travel. The zippered compartment would be awesome to stash emergency cash. I wish I knew about this before being pick pocketed in Paris last summer…..darn it! There is also another compartment (when you pop open the buckle) that should allow you to store small items such as medications, or a compass for example.
What I Don’t Like About It
Fitting May Be A Problem For Larger Waists
If you have a waist size larger than 38”, fitting is likely to be a concern, and you may want to consider a different product. I’m a 30” so this isn’t an issue for me. I guess there are benefits to having a smaller frame!
#6 Ready America Emergency Kit
We talked about the importance of water earlier, but the truth is you need much more than water to survive in an emergency scenario. This 2 person kit could be the one thing to keep you going before help arrives!
***CLICK HERE TO CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON***
What I Like About It
It Has All The Basic Essentials
Water, food, emergency blankets, light sticks, first aid kit, dust masks, non-latex gloves, ponchos, and a whistle are all the items stashed in this survival backpack. In my honest opinion having just the basic essentials could prove to be key in an emergency. Why? Let’s use the very recent hurricane Harvey as an example. If you were one of the unfortunate souls needing to evacuate, you’d definitely not want anything large and bulky to slow you down. A light backpack with the bare minimum is what you need!
You Can Add To It!
You can add in a fire starter, and even a Leatherman or Victorinox multi tool as required. I would add three things: Lifestraw filter, Leatherman Wingman, and a fire flint. Don’t add too much though! Remember, the more you add, the heavier and bulkier the backpack.
What I Don’t Like About It – Nothing!
Nothing I can think of that I dislike. You should always remember that the food items may expire, so be sure to replace in time. Otherwise, stash the backpack somewhere cool and dry and hopefully you never have to use it!
Best Survival Multi Tool: And The Winner Is…..
If you made it this far, thanks for putting up with my ranting! By now, you’ve probably realized how different each of the 6 survival multi tools we talked about are. You also must’ve realized that each one is unique and necessary in its own way. Having said that, there is no best survival multi tool. You should instead strive to use a combination of tools. For example, a good combination would be the Lifestraw, and the Leatherman Wingman. One more thing: you can have as many tools as you want, but lacking the appropriate survival skills makes you useless. Learn to use your tools, and they will serve you till eternity! And with that ladies and gentleman, I wish you all the best. If you enjoyed reading this post, a share would be hugely appreciated!
Featured Image Source: Multi Tools By Jim Pennucci CC BY 2.0